10 Cars Past Their Expiration Dates

The auto companies generally redesign a given model of car every five years. So every half decade, you'll see a thoroughly refreshed version of the most popular mainstream cars like the Toyota Camry, Honda Civic, or Ford Fusion. Of course, there are always exceptions to that five-year rule. Here are 10 tired cars and trucks that are currently living well beyond that half-decade mark. In fact, one vehicle here has remained in production and virtually unchanged since 1979.

Lotus Elise (Current Generation Debuted in 2002)

Lotus Elise (Current Generation Debuted in 2002)

By the late 1990s, Lotus's flagship (and only) sports car, the V-8-powered Esprit, was nearing retirement age. Lotus wanted to return to its roots: producing lightweight, tossable, and undeniably fun-to-drive cars. The result was the feathery (less than 2000 pounds) and relatively inexpensive Elise. America didn't get the Elise until 2005, and it came packing a Toyota 1.8-liter four-cylinder and an incredibly rewarding driving experience.

The Elise has been a huge hit for Lotus—one that lives on even after it was supposedly going to end production in 2011. And the excellent chassis was so adaptable that Tesla used it as the basis for its first car, the Roadster. But now, late in 2012, the Elise goes back more than 15 years. With the more modern, powerful, and roomier (but no less fun-to-drive) Evora now in the Lotus stable, the Elise could certainly use a full remodel.

Toyota Tacoma (2004)

Toyota Tacoma (2004)

Pickup truck designs tend to turn over at a slower rate than cars. Perhaps it's because most of these workhorses use a relatively predictable setup: body-on-frame chassis with a solid axle and leaf springs at the rear and double A-arms up front. Still, Toyota has been selling the current Tacoma for nearly a decade. And though the automaker has altered the grille and hood design once or twice, and the Tacoma is the clear best seller in the midsize pickup class, it's time for a full refresh.

To meet looming fuel economy targets, Toyota will need to employ more fuel-efficient engines and six-speed (or more) automatic transmissions. After all, the current truck's base 2.7-liter four-cylinder comes mated to a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed (!) automatic. That's old tech. Lastly, the Tacoma could lose a few pounds to help it meet fuel economy targets as well as to boost payload and towing capacity.